ANSWERED Info needed for this coin. Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos

expat · September 25, 2023

I snagged this quite cheap at an auction purely because of the reverse. I can´t find much about this issue so am appealing to Greek issue knowledgeable collectors to give me some avenues for reading about this type. The seller had it listed as 76, but it seems clearly to be Mueller 74 with that monogram.

Lysimachos, Kingdom of Thrace, AE 20mm, 5.20 gr. Generous flan. Lysimachia mint. 305-281 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, above and beneath lion leaping right, spearhead and M on O monogram below. Mueller 74.

Edited September 29, 2023 by expat
Question answered

ambr0zie · September 25, 2023

After checking in acsearch for this coin details and term spearhead (and not having access to Mueller catalogue) it seems 76 has these symbols under lion

I think you have MO monogram and spearhead

which is 82 - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5754192

But I know that sometimes auction houses paste the descriptions from similar coins without paying much attention. If I had your coin in my collection, I would list it as Mueller 82 but for my own peace of mind, I would try obtaining a copy of the Mueller catalogue. When I put a description in my collection and I do not have access to the actual catalogue, I try to find at least 3 examples, that are not copy/pasted from the same source.

Mine appears to be a 76

Edited September 25, 2023 by ambr0zie

expat · September 25, 2023

Wildwinds has it as Mueller 74, with text, monogram and spearhead correct.

ambr0zie · September 25, 2023

Check with Dane Kurth from wildwinds, she is an expert and also a friendly person.

This is why I mentioned to make sure you either have the catalogue in hand OR at least 3 coins described on acsearch, but different sources.

82 has a single result. 74 has more but still unsure.

Edited September 25, 2023 by ambr0zie

expat · September 25, 2023

6 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

Check with Dane Kurth from wildwinds, she is an expert and also a friendly person.

This is why I mentioned to make sure you either have the catalogue in hand OR at least 3 coins described on acsearch, but different sources.

82 has a single result. 74 has more but still unsure.

I sent an e-mail asking the question. I will post the reply when I receive one.

expat · September 25, 2023

Aside from an attribution, does anyone have any research on this type. For example why the reverse has a lion etc, the reason for the spearhead. I am curious and any insights would be great.

ambr0zie · September 25, 2023

I have some good news for you, @expat

I found the Mueller catalogue, legally and free.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Den_thraciske_Konge_Lysimachus_s_Mynter/kL4WAAAAYAAJ?hl=ro&gbpv=0&bshm=rime/1

You will find the coin on page 104 on the PDF where Mueller provided the types.

The symbols under the lion were written by the author from right to left - so 71 is K under the lion, left and spearhead right (not sure why he used this method in describing the coins). The line means it's the same symbol like the coin above it.

He used Latin - "ante figuram" - before the figure; "in medili" - in the middle; "in imo" - at the bottom

Your coin has MO monogram and spearhead (or spearhead and monogram like Mueller described it) so, you were correct (and now without doubt) - 74.

Mine is 76 - appears to be a more common variety.

I was never interested in the varieties of this type because mine was described as Mueller 76 in many, many auctions so never studied it carefully or doubted the attribution (but it was correct)

The one I found attributed as 82 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5754192